Barcelona coach Hansi Flick recently revealed that he had a conversation with midfielder Ilkay Gündogan amidst speculations about his future at the club. Gündogan was absent from the LaLiga opener against Valencia due to a head injury sustained in a previous match against Monaco. Reports suggested that the German international, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City last summer, has requested to leave the club before the transfer window closes. Despite these rumors, Flick expressed confidence that Gündogan would remain at Barcelona.
Sources close to Gündogan reiterated to ESPN that the player intends to stay at Barcelona and that his absence from the Valencia game was due to headaches and dizziness during training. The absence of Gündogan paved the way for a young Barcelona side to secure a victory in their season opener, with Robert Lewandowski scoring two goals to lead the team to a comeback win.
In the absence of several key players, including Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri, Flick fielded a lineup featuring several young talents from Barcelona’s La Masia academy. Players like Marc Bernal, Marc Casadó, Pau Cubarsí, and Lamine Yamal, all aged 17, were given the opportunity to shine in the senior team. Flick emphasized that the decision to field young players was not a test but a reflection of their hard work and quality showcased in preseason.
Reflecting on the match against Valencia, Flick acknowledged the slow start by Barcelona but praised the team’s improvement in the second half. Despite the mistakes made in the opening period, Flick was pleased with the response from the players after conceding a goal. Lewandowski’s brace, including a penalty kick, sealed the victory for Barcelona, marking a positive start to Flick’s tenure at the club.
As the season progresses, Barcelona will hope to resolve any uncertainties surrounding Gündogan’s future and focus on building a competitive squad under Flick’s guidance. The inclusion of young talents in the team provides optimism for the future, showing the club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown players. With a winning start to the season, Barcelona aims to continue their momentum and achieve success in domestic and European competitions under Flick’s leadership.
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